Lawrence Robinson

Dr. Larry Robinson is Professor and Division Director for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto and holds the John and Sally Eaton Chair in Rehabilitation Sciences.  He also serves as Program Chief for Rehabilitation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto.

He moved to Canada from the University of Washington where he served as Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and later as Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs and Post Graduate Medical Education.

Dr. Robinson has published extensively on rehabilitation and electrodiagnosis with over 130 publications in the peer-reviewed literature as well as 2 books.  He developed the combined sensory index (CSI) for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is now known internationally as the Robinson Index.  He also is widely known for his work on diagnosis and prognosis of traumatic neuropathy.

Research Synopsis

I have been interested primarily in electrodiagnosis - using neurophysiologic techniques to improve our ability to diagnose and prognosticate diseases of the nervous system. The combined sensory index (Robinson Index) is widely used as a way to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.

Currently my areas of interest are:
1. Improving our ability to use somatosensory evoked potentials to establish a prognosis after onset of coma.
2. Understanding the impact of introducing PM&R consults on an acute care service.
3. Better describing what board certification tests tell us about physician competency

Recent Publications

1. Mittal N, Sangha H, Flannery J, Robinson LR, Agur A. Ultrasound guided incisionless carpal tunnel release using a hook knife: a cadaveric study. PM&R. 2019 Feb 7. Coauthor or Collaborator.
2. Robinson LR, Probyn L. How Much Sciatic Nerve Does Hip Flexion Require? The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2019 Jan 30(2019 Jan 3):1-3. Principal Author.
3. Catapano M, Hoppe D, Henry P, Nam D, Robinson LR, Wasserstein D. Healing, Pain and Function after Mid-Shaft Clavicular Fractures: A Systematic Review of Treatment with Immobilization and Rehabilitation. PM&R. 2019 Jan 4. In Press. Coauthor or Collaborator.
4. Driscoll SW, Robinson LR, Raddatz MM, Kinney CL. Is there evidence of gender bias in the oral examination for initial certification by the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation? American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 2019 Jan 3(2019 Jan 3). Coauthor or Collaborator.
5. Lawrence R. Robinson MD. How Electrodiagnosis Predicts Clinical Outcome of Focal Peripheral Nerve Lesions. Muscle & Nerve. 2015 Sep 1;52:321-333. Published online 20 May 2015 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). Principal Author.

Honours and Awards

• Lifetime Achievement Award, AANEM. (Lifetime Achievement Award) Considered the AANEM’s highest honor. [2017 Sep] Given to members who are recognized as major contributors in the fields of neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic medicine by virtue of teaching, research, and scholarly publications.
• First place podium presentation, original research category, CAPM&R 66th Annual Scientific Meeting, Yukon, Canada. (Poster) [2018 Jun] The Impact of Introducing a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Trauma Consultation Service to a Canadian Academic Level 1 Trauma Center.
• John and Sally Eaton Chair in Rehabilitation Science, Sunnybrook Research Institute. (Research Award) [2014 Jul – present]